Grenada Invitational cancelled for good

REGIONAL TRACK and field fans will be left disappointed following the announcement that this year’s staging and all subsequent hosting of the Grenada Invitational have been cancelled.

In a statement from the track meet’s organising body, the decision was made due to a lack of economic support needed to host an international track meet of its magnitude.

The decision will not only affect this year’s staging of the Grenada Invitational but will also signal an end to the track meet permanently.

“Despite the best efforts of the Board of Directors and the Local Organising Team of the Grenada Invitational, the synergy, the enthusiasm, the energy, and the commitment to produce a once-in-a-generation event did not materialise,” the release read.

“With time running out, the Board of Directors of the Grenada Invitational took the painful decision at a meeting late Monday, May 27 to cancel the 2024 Grenada Invitational, as well as round up, for good, the franchise and brand that is Grenada Invitational.”

The track meet was first held in 2017 at the Kirani James Stadium and proved a significant milestone for the Caribbean nation as it was the first time Grenadian star Kirani James was able to compete professionally on his home soil.

Since its inception, the Grenada Invitational proved an important stop for regional and international athletes throughout the track and field calendar. The meet has boasted the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Stephen Gardiner, Justin Gatlin and Tobi Amusan.

This year’s staging was meant to have been a celebration for the nation, with Grenada celebrating its 50th year of independence alongside the 40-year anniversary of its first-ever Olympic appearance.

“Our dream was to deliver on an event befitting of a nation proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence; and to provide a Paris send-off to our own modern-day Olympic heroes.

“It is a huge undertaking that requires even more than before, the full cooperation and support of several entities to deliver. This being 40 years since our first Olympic appearance, we also wanted to celebrate all the nation’s Olympians from the past.”

Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson Herah was set to have been a headliner at this year’s staging of the Grenada Invitational.